Location
ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands, ESRIN, Frascati, Italy, ESA HQ, Paris, France, or ECSAT, Harwell, United Kingdom

Description

The Business Applications Transformation Architect is a senior-level position reporting to the Head of the Application Governance and Architecture Section. This role is split into two distinct areas of responsibility:

Transformation architect across all business management domains:
- Provide strategic architectural oversight and governance across the entire application estate, including the HR, finance, facilities management, customer relationship management (CRM), product lifecycle management (PLM), and procurement domains.
- Focus on establishing standards, driving modernisation and aligning architecture with business goals across all domains.
Solution architect and portfolio manager for the procurement domain:
- Take full ownership of solution architecture, solution realisation and project management exclusively for the procurement domain.
- Manage procurement-specific solutions on all aspects of the application lifecycle (plan/build/run), including timelines, resources, and delivery.

You will collaborate with various stakeholders to deliver scalable, efficient and business-aligned solutions, balancing strategic vision with hands-on leadership in procurement, while ensuring operational resilience and regulatory compliance across all domains.

Duties

Your tasks and responsibilities will include the following:

Strategic architecture across all business management domains:
- Define and enforce architectural standards and guardrails across all application portfolios (HR, finance, CRM, PLM and procurement) to ensure consistency, innovation and risk mitigation.
- Develop frameworks and best practices to align architectural strategies with organisational priorities and governance requirements.
- Lead modernisation efforts, transitioning from monolithic systems to modern, APl-led, event-driven architectures across the entire application estate.
- Partner with business and technology leaders to align technical roadmaps with organisational goals, supporting operational resilience, regulatory compliance and long-term value.
Solution architecture and portfolio management for the procurement domain
- Establish and lead a Competence Centre for the procurement domain to address evolving business needs and drive capability building.
- Take accountability for implementation and realisation of procurement solutions, working with development teams and vendors to resolve issues and meet quality standards.
- Ensure procurement solutions deliver measurable business value, integrating seamlessly with related systems (e.g. ERP) leveraging platforms such as low-code/no-code tools (e.g. Power Apps, SAP BTP and SharePoint).
- Manage all aspects of procurement projects, including timelines, budgets, resources, and stakeholder coordination, ensuring timely and successful delivery.
Collaboration and coaching
- For all domains: collaborate with functional and technical teams to ensure architectural designs and patterns are practical and aligned with strategic goals.
- For the procurement domain: mentor application support teams and oversee the implementation of procurement solutions, providing hands-on technical and functional guidance.
Stakeholder engagement
- For all domains: engage with business and technology leaders and portfolio teams to ensure architectural decisions meet organisational needs and compliance standards.
- For the procurement domain: act as a trusted advisor throughout the procurement project lifecycle, leading engagement with internal and external stakeholders.
Quality assurance and documentation
- For all domains: ensure functional and technical specifications align with architectural standards across HR, finance, CRM, PLM and procurement.
- For the procurement domain: validate the stability, scalability and interoperability of procurement solutions, maintaining detailed documentation (such as interface control documents).

Technical competencies

More than 10 years of professional experience in solution design, the development of large-scale ERP, CRM and PLM solutions, system integration, and technology trend monitoring

Deep understanding of the strategic sourcing and procurement domain, ideally in SAP MM/lcertis/SRM/Ariba/Coupa and/or S4 Spend Management combined with other cross functional domains such as ERP, CRM and PLM, with a good working knowledge of ABAP, SAP BTP and SAP Pl/PO being desirable

Broad understanding of procurement technologies and platforms and ability to embed into solutions to drive transformative results

TOGAF certification or equivalent enterprise architecture framework knowledge

PMP certification or equivalent project management expertise

Ability to strategically break down and solve complex business challenges

Strong analytical, creative problem-solving, and critical thinking skills, with a capability for systems and broader business thinking

Behavioural competencies

Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward Thinking

For more information, please refer to the ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook

Education

A master's degree in a relevant domain is required for this post.

Additional requirements

Strong communication and presentation skills to connect with an executive audience.
Excellent written communication skills, both in terms of content and presentation.
Ability to work across a matrix environment with a broad range of stakeholders.
Experience in sizing and solutioning large-scale procurement transformation programmes.
Integration experience across ERP, PLM, CRM, HRM (SuccessFactors) and SRM platforms is highly desirable.
Proven experience in implementing and championing Agile, Waterfall, hybrid, and DevOps methodologies.
Familiarity with low-code/no-code platforms such as Power Apps, SharePoint, ServiceNow and SAP BTP for designing custom solutions.
Knowledge of additional technologies would be an asset.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness
ESA is an equal opportunity employer, committed to achieving diversity within the workforce and creating an inclusive working environment. We therefore welcome applications from all qualified candidates irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics. Applications from women are encouraged.

At the Agency we value diversity, and we welcome people with disabilities. Whenever possible, we seek to accommodate individuals with disabilities by providing the necessary support at the workplace. The Human Resources Department can also provide assistance during the recruitment process. If you would like to discuss this further, please contact us via email at contact.human.resources@esa.int.

Important Information and Disclaimer
In principle, recruitment will be within the advertised grade band (A2-A4). However, if the selected candidate has less than four years of relevant professional experience following the completion of the master’s degree, the position may be filled at A1 level.

During the recruitment process, the Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests. Additionally, successful candidates will need to undergo basic screening before appointment, which will be conducted by an external background screening service, in compliance with the European Space Agency's security procedures.

Note that ESA is in the process of transitioning to a Matrix setup, which could lead to organisational changes affecting this position.

The information published on ESA’s careers website regarding working conditions is correct at the time of publication. It is not intended to be exhaustive and may not address all questions you would have.

Nationality and Languages
Please note that applications are only considered from nationals of one of the following States: Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Canada, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia.

According to the ESA Convention, the recruitment of staff must take into account an adequate distribution of posts among nationals of the ESA Member States*. When short-listing for an interview, priority will first be given to internal candidates and secondly to external candidates from under-represented Member States*.

The working languages of the Agency are English and French. A good knowledge of one of these is required. Knowledge of another Member State language would be an asset.

*Member States, Associate Members or Cooperating States.

Business Applications Transformation Architect

Job description